THE BRUNNER DISASTER.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 174, 1 April 1896, Page 2

THE BRUNNER DISASTER.

A Relief Fuxd Started. The appalling accident at the Brunner coal pit has caused the most profound sorrow throughout the Colony and has' aroused a universal throb of sympathy with the suffering women and children who are suddenly deprived of their breadwinners. The accounts in the daily press are of the most heart-rending description and show that out of a total number of sixty-seven men who went underground on that fateful Thursday morning not one soul is left to tell the tale. It is idle, however,- to dwell upon the horrors of the catastrophe when there is work to be done in providing relief for the grief-stricken women and children, and it is meet that this small community should offer its mite to the'fund which is being raised. ft; is useh'ss to stop from this good work to inquire into the alleged frittering away of the fund raised at the time of the similar disaster at Kaitangata. Relief for tlie present sufferers is urgently 'required now; the mismanagement of the former' fund ean be inquired into later on. Oir Saturday niorlring Mr Malfroy, after consultation with the members of the Board and' others, telegraphed as follows to tin? Mayor of Brunnerton :■ — "The-people of Rotorua deeply sympathise with the relatives and friends of those'wbo perished in the'terriblc disaster at the> Brunner mine: Owing to our postal arrangements particulars of the calamity only reached her'e on Saturday evening. Will do our best to collect subscriptions for the Relief Fund." In \ecordance with this subscription lists have been opened tit the various hotels and the principal stores and sent on to Galatea, To Whaiti, and outlying settlements. At the meeting of _the Concert Committee on Monday night it, was unanimously resolved that in place of the entertainment previously arranged to take place on behalf of the Library Building Fund, a sacred concert should be h aid on Good Friday night for the benefit of the sufferers by the coal mine accident We have no doubt that, this will materially swell the subscription list. Subscriptions w : ll also be received at the office of this paper.